TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Competitiveness Council

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Competitiveness Council on 30 September.

Melanie Johnson: I represented the UK at the Competitiveness Council of Ministers in Brussels on 30 September. This was the first meeting of the new Competitiveness Council, which is an amalgamation of the Internal Market, Industry and Research formations.
	The five specific programmes of the sixth R&D Framework programme were adopted and there was political agreement on legislative dossiers covering public procurement (the utilities directive) and fertilisers (fertilisers regulation). In addition, there was political agreement on two company law dossiers: the updating of the First Company Law Directive on filing and disclosure of company documents in the light of new technology; and the modernisation of the EU Accounting Directives to take account of the adoption of International Accounting Standards as the reporting regime for the EU's listed companies.
	Council Conclusions were adopted endorsing the Commission's Action Plan on Better Regulation and its rapid implementation.
	There was a Presidency report on the proposed discussions at the Nyborg informal, of the methods of working of the new CC formation and a progress report on the proposed 25 amendment (including some overlap with the 23 amendment) to the marketing and use of dangerous substances directive to include controls on further carcinogens, mutagens and substances toxic to reproduction.
	There were Commission presentations on the streamlining of the annual economic and employment policy co-ordination cycles and two reports: the State of the Internal Market for Services and Second Biennial Report on Mutual Recognition in the Internal Market.
	The Commission also reported that bilateral talks with Korea had failed to reach agreement, and the Commission confirmed that it would now implement the decision as agreed by the Council in June—namely to launch the WTO case against Korea together with the reintroduction of the limited and temporary shipbuilding subsidies.
	Over lunch Professor Jaap Winter reported on the consideration by the High Level Group on Company Law of corporate governance issues in the light of large-scale corporate collapses in the US. The Group's approach was to explore ways in which to improve standards of corporate governance, where necessary, and strengthen the role of shareholders within a flexible EU framework. When the formal session resumed conclusions supporting the development of an EU Action Plan were adopted without debate.
	The UK voted in favour of political agreement on the public procurement directive and fertilisers regulation as well as the updating of the First Company Law Directive and the modernisation of the EU Accounting Directives. The UK was also in favour regarding the adoption of the five specific programmes of the sixth R&D Framework programme and the Council conclusions, on the Commission's Action Plan on Better Regulation and on the development of an EU Action Plan on corporate governance.

Energy Council

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Energy Council on 4 October.

Brian Wilson: I represented the UK at the EU Energy Council held in Luxembourg on 4 October.
	Discussion at this Council centred on the issue of liberalisation of the EU's electricity and gas markets. There was also a short presentation of the European Commission's proposals for directives for Community-level oil and gas stocks.
	The majority of Member States agreed that full legal separation of transmission and distribution system operators was essential for the creation of a genuinely competitive electricity and gas internal market. A minority maintained reserves as they had doubts about the necessity of legal unbundling, arguing that there were other ways to guarantee transparency and fair access to the networks.
	Supporting the majority, the UK said the current proposed exemption threshold of 100,000 customers for distribution operators was too high, because it would exclude a large part of the market in some Member States. The UK could not accept the postponement of legal unbundling for those operators until 1 January 2005, since unbundling was as essential for non-household customers as it was for household customers. The UK emphasised that the need for political agreement was particularly important in the light of the increasing consolidation across Europe. If we did not put in place the conditions needed to ensure non-discriminatory access to networks for all market players, and this meant legal unbundling, there was a danger that incumbents might be able to use their dominant positions to thwart competition. The Commission agreed that legal separation of both transmission and distribution network operators was essential, reminding delegations that this need not imply any transfer of assets.
	On public service obligations, there was split between those preferring the universal service provisions to apply to all final customers and those, including the UK, wishing to limit them to household customers only.
	On energy labelling, most delegations agreed that any labelling system should be simple, cost-effective and accurate.
	Discussion on access to gas storage generated strong support for a UK-inspired compromise whereby non-competitive segments of the market would be subject to regulated third party access, while competitive segments could use negotiated access. But some Member States maintained a preference for negotiated access only.
	Nearly all Member States emphasised the need to complete the full internal market as soon as possible, supporting the dates of 2004 for opening the non-domestic sector and 2005 for the domestic sector. The Commission agreed on these operative dates, but signalled the possibility of flexibility to achieve consensus.
	The Presidency concluded that the EU remained on course to reach political agreement at the next energy Council meeting on 25 November.
	A progress report on the electricity cross border Regulation was noted without discussion. The Commission emphasised that it was an essential part of the package.
	The Commission presented proposals for two directives containing new arrangements for stocking oil and gas within the Community, explaining that the main objective was to improve security of supply of oil and gas. The Commission argued that the EU's arrangements for emergency oil stocks needed updating to take account of the current political situation; and that the development of gas as a fuel of choice for electricity generation meant that special arrangements were needed to guarantee security of supply, particularly in view of the rising proportion of gas imported into the EU.
	The UK disagreed, arguing that the existing oil arrangements of the International Energy Agency had proved to be both flexible and adequate, and that the gas measure was premature until the internal market was functioning properly.

UK Structural Funds Programme

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps his Department has taken to simplify the application process for accessing funding from UK European Structural Funds programmes; and what discussions his Department has had with UK and European partners on the simplification of the application process for accessing funding from UK Structural Funds Programme.

Alan Johnson: The DTI, in co-ordination with other Government Departments, has been at the forefront of discussion with other Member States and the European Commission on all aspects of simplification of Structural Funds administration. The UK has drafted papers on this issue for consideration by the Structural Funds Management Committees, and as a result of this work, Commissioner Michel Barnier called a meeting of Regional Policy Ministers on 7 October during which the Commission proposals for simplification were discussed. The UK gave its support to these proposals and will be working with the Commission and other Member States on their practical implementation.

PRIME MINISTER

Sir Desmond Morton

Paul Clark: To ask the Prime Minister if an official biography of Sir Desmond Morton is being commissioned.

Tony Blair: Yes, I have appointed Mrs. Gill Bennett who is a visiting Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, as the official historian to write the official biography of Sir Desmond Morton.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what archaeological surveys have been conducted by (a) her Department, (b) the County Archaeological Office and (c) English Heritage in respect of the sites identified for development as asylum accommodation centres; if the Government will publish the reports; and what further plans the Government have to commission such surveys.

Kim Howells: It is for the developing agency, not the DCMS, the County Archaeologist or English Heritage to undertake archaeological surveys to inform proposals for development.
	From the outset of the Accommodation Centre project, archaeology has been dealt with in accordance with government guidance as set out in PPG 16 ''Archaeology and Planning''. At the site option screening stage, archaeology was one of many factors used to identify sites where an Accommodation Centre might be developed without significant adverse impact to heritage interests, to preclude other sites where unacceptable impacts would occur and to identify those possible sites where desk studies, field evaluation or other archaeological measures would be necessary.
	Archaeological desk and field evaluation studies have been commissioned by the Home Office for the Accommodation Centres proposed at Newton, Bicester and Pershore. Field evaluation trenching has also been undertaken at Newton and Bicester, and is under consideration at Pershore.
	At Newton and Bicester the results of the desk and field studies have been submitted as part of the planning notification process, and documentation for Pershore will similarly form part of the planning submission. In due course, if development goes ahead any archaeological investigations in advance of development will be published in accordance with government guidance and archaeological best practice.

Wembley Stadium

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the final report of the English National Stadium Review to be published; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: I am today publishing the final report of the English National Stadium Review led by Patrick Carter and placing copies in the Libraries of both Houses. The report reflects the detail of the agreements concluded by all principal parties on the National Stadium project on 26 September.
	I set out on 19 December 2001, Official Report columns 291–3, four tests which I expected the Football Association (FA) and Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL) to meet before the offer of Government support to the National Stadium project could be confirmed:
	First, an independent assessment of the Multiplex stadium construction contracts. This was undertaken by Cyril Sweett Ltd and copies were placed in the House libraries in May. Since May the contract has changed from a Design, Construct and Finance arrangement to a Design and Construct contract. Cyril Sweett Ltd have therefore reviewed the new contract and produced an addendum report that concludes the new contract remains value for money. I am placing copies of the addendum report in the House libraries today.
	Secondly, as I explained in my 7 May statement, Official Report columns 21–2, WNSL have made available to the Comptroller and Auditor General papers relating to the project.
	Thirdly, corporate governance changes to be made to produce a management structure capable of delivering a complex project within procedures acceptable to the public sector. In addition to the significant strengthening of the WNSL Board, already announced, a range of improved procedures are now in place.
	Fourthly, confirmation that financial support was adequate and fully committed. As Patrick Carter's report sets out, this is now the case.
	Having reviewed the steps the FA and WNSL have taken since December, last year, and Patrick Carter's assessment of the progress made by WNSL, including his view that on balance my four tests have been met, I have confirmed the Government's support to the National Stadium project which I had first offered in December. I have however also ensured that the public interest in the new National Stadium is protected by stronger safeguards than those secured at the previous project's failed syndication in 2000.
	The time has come for Government to stand back as the project moves into the construction phase and is taken forward by the FA and WNSL. But, as Patrick Carter has noted, to safeguard the public interest, the project as a whole will require careful monitoring and with Sport England and the London Development Agency we shall be putting in place new arrangements as recommended by the Office for Government Commerce.

Wembley Stadium

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what advice she has received from the Football Association about progress in concluding the financing of the proposed redevelopment of Wembley Stadium;
	(2)  what advice she has received from the Football Association about changes in costs, including legal and professional fees, of the proposed redevelopment of Wembley Stadium;
	(3)  when she expects the final contracts for the proposed redevelopment of Wembley Stadium to be concluded; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The contracts relating to the construction of the English National Stadium at Wembley were signed on 26 September. My right hon. Friend has published today the final report of the English National Stadium Review team which included Wembley National Stadium Limited's data on changes to the costs of the project including fees. Copies of the report are available in the House libraries or from my Department's website www.culture.gov.uk.

BBC

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the BBC curriculum online proposal; and when she expects to reach a decision on the proposal.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering the BBC's application for a digital curriculum service, together with the responses to the public consultation, against the criteria set out in the Department's published guidelines on proposed new BBC public services. My right hon. Friend will announce her decision on the application as soon as possible.

Television Licences

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what changes she proposes to the working of the concessionary scheme so that eligibility for concessionary TV licences is not lost when someone under 60 years moves into the beneficiary's sheltered housing;
	(2)  how many representations from (a) members of the public, (b) charities and (c) hon. Members she has received regarding sheltered housing schemes being charged for a television licence because a resident is under 60; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  when the proposals she has to change the working of the concessionary scheme so that eligibility for concessionary TV licences is not lost when someone under 60 moves into the beneficiary's sheltered housing will be published.

Kim Howells: The Government proposes to introduce preserved rights for beneficiaries of the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary television licence scheme when the social mix or the level of warden cover in their sheltered housing change, so long as the accommodation continues to be provided or managed by a local authority, a housing association or a development corporation. We intend to publish amending regulations as soon as possible, but the ARC scheme is complex and it is important that, in amending it, we avoid creating any new anomalies or unnecessary administrative burdens.
	Information about the number of representations received on different aspects of the concessionary television licensing arrangements is not recorded separately.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Senegal

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the supply of general purpose machine guns to Senegal, for use as part of a UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Denis MacShane: Following consultations with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export general purpose machine guns to Senegal. These arms will be used by the Senegalese Armed Forces in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	DRC is subject to an EU arms embargo, imposed by a Declaration of 7/4/1993. The embargo was put in place mainly to ensure the safety of international troops and civilian personnel deployed in the DRC. The decision to grant an exemption does not affect HMG's continued support for the EU arms embargo on the DRC.
	The decision to permit export was made on the basis that the equipment is needed by bona fide UN peacekeepers and is proportionate to the humanitarian needs of the Senegalese peacekeepers.
	HMG fully supports the Senegalese troops deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. The decision underlines our continued support for the work being done by peacekeepers within the country.

Iraq

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goods on the Military List have recently been approved for export to Iraq.

Denis MacShane: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export de-mining equipment to United Nations Office for Project Services in mine clearance operations in Northern Iraq. The export included an electronic hand held exploder that appears on the Military List. The conclusion that this export does not represent a proliferation threat has been reached after careful assessment.
	The UN Iraq Sanctions Committee approved this export to Iraq under the Oil for Food programme (OFF). Under OFF Iraq is allowed to export unlimited quantities of oil to fund the purchase of humanitarian goods. The export is consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

Belize

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress to resolve the territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize.

Denis MacShane: The Organization of American States (OAS) concluded its two year process to help the Governments of Guatemala and Belize settle their territorial dispute on 30 September. Detailed proposals drawn up by independent Facilitators appointed by both Governments were presented to the Governments on 16 September, provide the basis for a fair and honourable settlement to this long-standing dispute. We hope both Governments will now seize this historic opportunity.
	The Facilitators have recommended some adjustment to the land border, and proposed new maritime limits giving Guatemala an Economic Exclusion Zone and Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Honduras of some 2000 square nautical miles. The Governments of Belize and Honduras have each agreed to contribute 1000 square nautical miles to this zone.
	The Facilitators have also recommended the establishment of a tri-national ecological park covering coastal, insular and maritime areas of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras and a substantial Development Trust Fund. Details can be found on the Belize Government's website www.belize.gov.bz/.
	At a ceremony in Washington on 30 September marking the end of the facilitation process, Dr. MacShane spoke of the UK's full support for the OAS process. He welcomed the proposals highlighting the potential for investment and economic growth that will result if the referendums that are now due to be held simultaneously in both countries are successful.
	HMG believes that the Facilitators have worked patiently and meticulously to produce proposals that are fair and honourable to the Governments of Guatemala and Belize. They represent the best chance yet of settling the dispute. Settlement would also have a global significance, demonstrating that with good will and determination even the most intractable problems can be resolved by negotiation. A settlement would open a new chapter of peace and harmony between the two countries and reduce the risk of potential conflict along the border.
	We urge the Governments and civil society of both countries to enter into constructive debate on what a settlement would mean to their populace before putting the proposals to referendums.

Azerbaijan

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK will continue to uphold the OSCE embargo on the export of weapons and military equipment to Azerbaijan.

Mike O'Brien: HMG remains committed to the OSCE arms embargo against both Azerbaijan and Armenia, which we interpret as covering all goods and technology controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 (commonly known as the military list).
	In September 2002, the Government approved an export licence application for demining vests for the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Actions.
	In January 2002 the Government approved a similar request for protective jackets for demining operations to Azerbaijan.
	The decision was made in accordance with our practice occasionally to make an exemption to our interpretation of the embargo by approving exports of non-lethal military goods to humanitarian, media or peacekeeping organisations where it is clear that the embargo was not intended to prevent those exports and there is a strong humanitarian case for them.

European Union Events

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for October; and if he will list the major European Union events for the period between 31 October and April 2003.

Peter Hain: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			 Date Location Business 
		
		
			  October 2002 
			 1 Brussels GAERC 
			 2 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 3–4 Brussels Convention Plenary: Subsidiarity & Legal Personality working group conclusions; interim reports on Charter & National Parliaments working groups 
			 3–4 Brussels Transport & Telecommunications Council 
			 8 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 8 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 10 Copenhagen EU/India Summit 
			 11–12 Nyborg Internal Market, Consumer Affairs & Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal) 
			 14 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council 
			 16 Brussels EU Commission: Annual Report on Candidate Countries 
			 17 Brussels Environment Council 
			 17 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Luxembourg EU Trade (Ministers Informal) 
			 21–22 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 24–25 Brussels European Council 
			 28–29 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 28–29 Aalborg Patent Protection: Ministers & EU Commissioners 
			 28–29 Brussels Convention plenary: Giscard to release his constitutional text; Charter working group conclusions; preliminary reports on conclusions of Economic Governance and Complementary Competences working groups. 
			  
			 November 
			 4 Brussels Culture Council 
			 5 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 6 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 7 Brussels Health Council 
			 7–8 Brussels Convention Plenary—Complementary Competences and Economic Governance working group conclusions; preliminary reports on conclusions of Simplification, National Parliaments, Security and Justice working groups. 
			 11–12 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs & Tourism Council 
			 18–19 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations Council (Defence) 
			 21 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 25–26 Brussels Budget Meeting 
			 25–26 Brussels Industry & Energy Council 
			 28 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 28–29 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council 
			  
			 December 
			 2 Brussels Meeting On Macro Economic Dialogue (Ministerial Trokia) 
			 3 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 2–3 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 4 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 5 Brussels Transport & Telecom Council 
			 6 Brussels Transport & Telecom Council 
			 9 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 10 Brussels Environment Council 
			 12–15 Copenhagen European Council 
			 16–17 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 19 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Brussels Justice And Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council 
			 20–21 Brussels Convention Plenary-External Action and Defence working group conclusions 
			  
			 January 
			 9 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 9 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed) 
			 16 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Brussels EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 20 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 20–21 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 21 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 24 Nafplion Employment Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 27–28 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations Council 
			 28 Brussels EU-ASEAN Ministerial 
			 30 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			  
			 February 
			 5 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6–7 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 10–11 Brussels AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES Council (to be confirmed) 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 17 Brussels EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 18 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 20 Brussels EDUCATION, YOUTH & CULTURE Council (to be confirmed) 
			 22 Thessalonika Energy Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 24–25 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations Council Agriculture & Fisheries 
			 26 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27–28 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 27–28 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council 
			 28 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			  
			 March 
			 3 Luxembourg Competitiveness Council 
			 6 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6 Luxembourg Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 6 Luxembourg EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 7 Luxembourg ECOFIN 
			 7 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 14–15 Athens (Informal Defence Meeting) 
			 17–18 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 17–18 Luxembourg Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 18–19 Luxembourg General Affairs & External Relations Council 
			 21 Luxembourg European Council 
			 27 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27 Veria Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 27–28 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom & Energy Council) 
			 28 Athens EU-Rio Group, EU-MERCOSUR 
			 28–29 Veria Informal Justice & Home Affairs (Veria) 
			 31 Luxembourg Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed) 
			  
			 April 
			 2 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 3–4 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 4 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs 
			 5 Lisbon Europe—Africa Summit 
			 5 Ioannina Ministerial Meeting on Education (Informal) 
			 10 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 11–13 Chania ECOFIN (Informal) 
			 14 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 14 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries 
			 16 Brussels Signature Of The Accession (Provisional Date) 
			 23 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 24–25 Brussels Convention Plenary

Georgia

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the appointment of a UK Special Representative for Georgia.

Jack Straw: I am committed to finding a way to help Georgia become prosperous, stable and able to live in harmony with its neighbours. This is why I am glad to have appointed Sir Brian Fall as the UK's Special Representative for Georgia, with effect from 1 October. In this capacity Sir Brian will also be the UK Senior Representative on the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary General on Georgia. Sir Brian was formerly H.M. Ambassador to Moscow (1992–95). His experience of the region and his diplomatic skills will be invaluable in helping him fulfil this role.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 16 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mohammad Aamrk Iqbal.

Mike O'Brien: I am informed that due to an administrative error, my right hon. Friend did not receive a reply to his letter of 16 August. I apologise for this. A reply was sent on 7 October.

East Timor

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement, with reference to the documents made public by the Australian Government in September 2000, on the attack at Balibo, East Timor on 16 October 1975.

Mike O'Brien: In September 2000, the Australian Government published a volume of documents taken from their archives on their relations with East Timor from 1974–76. A number of these documents refer to the deaths of the journalists in the attack on Balibo.
	The British Government gave the Australian Government clearance to publish a number of official documents which referred to information obtained from British diplomatic sources.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Racial Harmony

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies he is planning to improve racial harmony in Britain.

Beverley Hughes: The Community Cohesion Unit, part of the Home Office, is committed to improving community cohesion—which will contribute to improving racial harmony. It supports local authorities and other public bodies to tackle immediate problems in communities; integrating community cohesion into mainstream policy and practice; and developing and disseminating knowledge, experience and expertise to local authorities.
	It is, for example, funding a programme of community facilitation to encourage dialogue and tackle local grievances or misunderstandings that threaten good community and race relations. A Ministerial Group has been established from across Government whose role is to ensure that their policies promote community cohesion, and it is working with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Local Government Association (LGA) and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to produce practical guidance on community cohesion for local authorities. A draft of this guidance was made available earlier in the year.
	The new Government PSA target on race equality, on which the Home Office leads, will deliver improvements in race equality and community cohesion over the next three years,
	''bringing about measurable improvements in race equality and community cohesion across a range of performance indicators, as part of the Government's objectives on equality and social inclusion'' (Home Office PSA 9).
	The EC Article 13 Race Directive, which should be transposed into UK law by 19 July 2003, establishes, for the first time, a minimum standard of legal protection from racial discrimination across Europe. The UK's domestic legislation already conforms to most of the provisions of the Directive. However, some technical amendments to the Race Relations Act 1976 will be required in order to implement it. The Government is considering a range of legislative options for achieving this. The Government intends to issue another public consultation exercise on the detailed proposals. This will take place in the autumn.

Crimes Against Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to ensure that overseas-recruited (a) health workers and (b) social workers who are working with children have not been convicted of an offence that relates to crimes against children.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith).
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in his speech to the Labour Party conference on 2 October that forthcoming legislation on sex offenders will include a new order to make those convicted of sexual offences abroad subject to the registration requirements of the Sex Offenders Act if they come to the United Kingdom.

Devolution (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what co-ordination he has undertaken of Departments' assessment of the implications of the entitlement card proposals for the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament.

Beverley Hughes: Home Office officials met with counterparts in the Scottish Executive to discuss issues of particular relevance to the devolved administration, prior to the publication of the consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud. These contacts will continue during the consultation exercise.
	The consultation paper states that any legislation to establish an entitlement card scheme would be enacted by the Westminster Parliament, as any scheme would need to operate on a UK-wide basis if it was to be effective as an immigration control measure.
	One of the detailed options for the scope of any legislation would allow organisations to link services to a card scheme via their own legislation. Under these arrangements, it will be a matter for the Scottish Executive and Parliament to decide whether to link the services they are responsible for to a card scheme. However, they could not prevent the issuing of a card for purposes which are outside the scope of their powers, for example, the UK card as a travel document in Europe.

Departmental Bodies

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jobs under the remit of his Department in (a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 July 2002
	The Home Office's central personnel systems do not track jobs only staff. As staff may share a job, and as a job may be vacant awaiting the posting of staff it is not possible to provide an answer in the form requested without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Home Office staff figures in each region and nation of the United Kingdom are published in ''Civil Service Statistics'' year on year and placed in the Library. Staffing Figures for non-departmental public bodies are published in ''Public Bodies 2001''.
	Home Office Staffing figures as at 1 April 2001 are set out in the table. Information is provided, as at that date, to enable comparisons with other Government departments.
	
		
			  Scotland London Rest of England Wales Northern Ireland Overseas 
			 Dept/Body/ Organisation 1  No. (FTE) %age No. (FTE) %age No. (FTE) %age No. (FTE) %age No. (FTE) %age No. (FTE) %age Total (FTE) 
		
		
			 Core Home Office including Immigration and Nationality Departmenta 112.8 0.9 8163.9 66.3 3921.0 31.8 54.8 0.4 9.6 0.08 57.6 0.5 12320.5 
			 Fire Service Collegec 0 0 0 0 152.8 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 152.8 
			 Forensic Science Servicec 0 0 722.6 32.9 1,322 60.34 146.4 6.7 0 0 0 0 2191 
			 Passport & Records Agencyc2 200.76 7.32 544.48 19.84 1,623.3 59.16 258.64 9.43 116.76 4.26 0 0% 2743.94 
			 Prison Servicec 1 0 6,400.6 15.3 34,785.9 82.9 777.5 1.9 0 0 0 0 41,965 
		
	
	Notes:
	KEY
	aCore department (excluding agencies)
	bNon-departmental public body
	cExecutive agency
	dindependent statutory body, organisation or body financially sponsored by the department
	1 Permanent Staff (fte) by Region as per MANDATE figures 31/03/01
	2 Data from Passport & Records Agency is as 8 October 2002

Asylum Seekers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what contact his Department has had with the Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the potential impact of establishing an asylum seeker accommodation centre at RAF Turnhouse on council services in Edinburgh;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with the Director of Education of the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the provision of educational facilities for asylum seekers in RAF Turnhouse;
	(3)  what discussions his Department has had with the Director of Social Work of the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the provision of social services for asylum seekers at RAF Turnhouse;
	(4)  what discussions his Department has had with the Director of Housing of the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the provision of housing facilities for asylum seekers (a) during their stay in and (b) after their departure from RAF Turnhouse;
	(5)  what consultation his Department has had with the Chief Constable of the Lothian and Borders Police regarding the policing of the area near to an asylum accommodation centre at RAF Turnhouse.

Beverley Hughes: Following the announcement of the shortlist of eight sites in January, my officials conducted initial consultations, including with the Leader of City of Edinburgh Council and other officers. Detailed consultations will be undertaken if it is decided to submit a planning notification in respect of the Air West Edinburgh site.

Asylum Seekers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the measures taken to deter bogus asylum seekers in the last two years by the EU.

Beverley Hughes: In December 2002 Council adopted the EURODAC Regulation establishing a computerised central database of fingerprint images, as well as the electronic means for Member States to transmit fingerprint images to the central database. Once operational, expected to be early next year, EURODAC will enable the fingerprints of asylum applicants and certain other third country nationals to be compared to support the application of the Dublin Convention and its successor. This will enable the rapid identification of those seeking to abuse asylum systems by making multiple and differing claims throughout the European Union.
	In December 2001 the Laeken European Council called for urgent action to combat illegal migration, itself linked to the making of fraudulent asylum claims. In February 2002, Member States adopted a comprehensive Action Plan, which included measures on border management, readmission agreements and co-ordinating work in source and transit countries. The Seville European Council in June 2002 agreed a range of further measures to combat illegal migration.

Immigration

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in Reading, East became UK citizens in 2001.

Beverley Hughes: 90,2951 persons were granted British citizenship in the United Kingdom in 2001. Corresponding information on grants to persons in particular constituencies is not available, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Note:
	1Provisional

Immigration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have entered the UK for the purposes of (a) visiting, (b) study, (c) economic activity, (d) family reunion and (e) humanitarian protection in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested on how many persons have entered the United Kingdom (UK) as visitors, students, for employment related and family reunion purposes are given in the table. The figures given exclude passengers who are not subject to immigration control, i.e. European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and Commonwealth citizens who have the right of abode in the UK.
	
		Passengers, given leave to enter the United Kingdom by purpose of journey, excluding EEA nationals, 1997 to 2001
		
			 Purpose of journey 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001p 
		
		
			 Visitors 7,760,000 8,040,000 8,370,000 8,930,000 8,170,000 
			 of which: Business visitors 1,530,000 1,530,000 1,600,000 1,770,000 1,610,000 
			 Students 278,000 266,000 272,000 313,000 339,000 
			 Employment related 145,000 161,000 173,000 179,000 186,000 
			 of which: Work permit holders (including dependants) 62,975 68,385 76,010 91,825 108,825 
			 Working holidaymakers 33,300 40,800 45,800 38,400 35,800 
			 Au pairs 15,295 15,880 14,645 12,870 11,985 
			 Domestic workers 15,640 15,825 14,890 14,290 10,465 
			 Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent, who are seeking or taking employment 8,350 10,220 11,785 10,930 10,635 
			 Seasonal agricultural workers1 9,275 9,450 9,760 10,105 8,390 
			 Investors 25 15 25 50 25 
			 Family reunion 28,570 34,705 32,780 36,065 33,410 
			 of which: Admitted as a spouse or fiance(e) 26,385 32,165 30,320 32,970 29,100 
			 Dependants2 2,185 2,545 2,460 3,095 4,310 
		
	
	Notes:
	P Data are provisional
	1 May be an underestimate of those who work as seasonal agricultural workers as they may enter through other admission categories.
	2 Excludes those children granted settlement on arrival as it is not possible to separate those travelling independently for family reunion from those travelling with their parents. However, in each of the five years shown these total no more than 1,800.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five or to three significant figures
	No data are currently available for the number of persons who have entered the UK for the purpose of humanitarian protection. It is not possible to provide information on how many asylum seekers entered the UK in any given period, because some arrive clandestinely and subsequently apply for asylum in-country rather than on arrival at UK ports. Others may enter legally with visas as visitors, or under another immigration status, and subsequently claim asylum.
	The table below shows the number of applicants who applied for asylum in the UK, both at port and in-country, in each year between 1997 and 2001.
	
		Applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1997 to 2001 1 
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001p 
		
		
			 Applications received 32,500 46,015 71,160 80,315 71,365 
			 Applied at port 16,590 23,345 29,455 25,935 25,210 
			 Applied in-country 15,915 22,670 41,700 54,380 46,160 
		
	
	Notes:
	P Data are provisional
	1 May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000. Excludes Kosovars evacuated from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia under the humanitarian operation which began in April 1999 who were granted exceptional leave for 1 year, and a number of grants of temporary exceptional leave given to Kosovars who arrived in the United Kingdom outside the evacuation programme, other than those who applied for asylum whilst in the UK. As at July 2000 the majority of those Kosovars who had arrived under the humanitarian evacuation operation had returned to (FRY) Former Republic of Yugoslavia.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Ronald Biggs

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the marriage of a prisoner to a foreign national has on the rights of (a) the marriage partner and (b) existing children to (i) remain in the United Kingdom, (ii) hold a British passport and (iii) obtain British citizenship.

Beverley Hughes: If the prisoner is not, himself, a British citizen or a person settled in the UK, then his status would not confer any entitlement on his spouse and children to remain in the UK. Providing that adequate funds were available, his spouse and children could seek leave to enter the UK for short periods to visit him in prison.
	If the prisoner is a British citizen or person settled here, a foreign national marrying him would be able to apply for leave to remain here on the basis of the marriage. The application would be considered on its merits, taking into account the following factors:
	the length of the sentence;
	whether the marriage is subsisting and the sponsor (that is the prisoner) supports the application and intends to resume co-habitation on release;
	whether the spouse is able to maintain and accommodate herself and any dependants without recourse to public funds, given that the sponsor is in prison.
	Any dependent children (under 18) could apply for leave to enter or remain in line with the conditions of the spouse.
	Marriage to a British citizen does not confer automatic British citizenship on a foreign national. The requirements for naturalisation must still be met, although they are less demanding than for naturalisation of someone not married to a British citizen.
	A legitimate child born overseas to a British citizen father and non-British citizen mother may be a British citizen from birth, whilst an illegitimate birth overseas to such parents would usually mean that the child was not a British citizen. However, if the parents of an illegitimate child subsequently marry, and the law of the country in which the father is domiciled legitimates a child of the relationship upon the parents' marriage, the child will be treated as having been born legitimate. The child would then be regarded as a British citizen from birth and would be entitled to enter and remain freely in this country.
	A person would not be entitled to hold a British passport without first obtaining British nationality.

Passport and Records Agency

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Passport and Records Agency intends to publish its annual accounts for 2001–02.

Beverley Hughes: The Passport and Records Agency Accounts 2001–02 has been published today and copies of the Report have been placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

Unpaid Advisers

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of the unpaid advisers appointed by him and his predecessor since June 1997, stating in each case (a) the date of their appointment, (b) the duration of their appointment and (c) the project or projects on which they have been engaged.

Lewis Moonie: holding reply 25 March 2002)
	No unpaid advisers have been appointed by Defence Ministers since June 1997.
	For details of unpaid appointments made by the Ministry of Defence to task forces, review groups and other ad hoc advisory groups, I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer provided by my hon. Friend for Shipley (Mr. Leslie) on 16 November 2001, Official Report, columns 895W–96W.

Departmental Staff

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many overseas visits have been undertaken by parliamentary private secretaries in his Department at departmental expense in each of the last four years; and at what cost to public funds.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 25 February 2002
	Parliamentary Private Secretaries supporting Ministers in this Department have travelled overseas on Government business on three occasions. As military transport was used no additional costs were incurred. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

Age Discrimination

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is towards age discrimination.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence integrated age into its equal opportunity policy some years ago and the Department has a commitment that there should be no unfair discrimination on the basis of age. Action on diversity has and will continue to tackle any negative attitudes, particularly through the training and development of managers and through the monitoring of recruitment, selection and appraisal statistics.
	The Ministry of Defence, like other Departments, has reviewed its age retirement policy in light of the Government's commitment to tackle ageism in the workplace as set out in the Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment published in 1999 and in the Performance Innovation Unit's Report ''Winning the Generation Game''. The review concluded that there should be no change. In the MOD, some two-thirds of the workforce have the option to retire anytime between the age of 60 and 65.

Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) purpose was of visits by ministers in his Department to Wales since 1997; and when he next intends to visit Wales.

Lewis Moonie: holding reply 17 June 2002
	Defence Ministers have made the following visits to Wales since 1997:
	
		
			 Dates   
		
		
			 2 March 1999 Clwyd Visit to RAF Sealand/Defence Aviation Repair Agency 
			 7 March 1999 St Athan Visit to Defence Aviation Repair Agency 
			 5–6 June 1999 Cwmbran Rededication of War Memorial 
			 9 June 2000 Chepstow Visit to Royal Anglian Regiment 
			 9 January 2002 St Athan Visit to Defence Aviation Repair Agency 
			 7 August 2002 St Athan Visit to Defence Aviation Repair Agency 
		
	
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence plans to visit Wales in early November.

Consultancies

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list external (a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by his Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within his Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, information on expenditure on external assistance, categorised by type of work and Top Level Budget Holder, is contained in the Ministry of Defence's annual return of expenditure on External Assistance. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House since 1996.

Equipment (Heat and Desert Conditions)

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance criteria and testing procedures relating to possible use in extreme heat and desert conditions were utilised during the procurement processes for (a) the Challenger II Tank and its related AS90 self propelled gun, (b) items of military clothing, (c) C17 transport aircraft and (d) radio communication and information systems.

Lewis Moonie: Performance criteria and testing procedures during the procurement of any equipment or materiel are those required to ensure that the operational requirements set at that time are met. Amongst the criteria used is the Ministry of Defence series of Defence Standards (DEFStans). The performance of equipments that have been in-service for some time is routinely monitored to ensure that they continue to meet operational requirements.
	Both the Challenger II Tank and AS90 were procured against a requirement to operate in Northwest Europe. Following the experience of Exercise SAIF SAREEA II, the ability to operate more effectively in Desert conditions is being enhanced through logistic improvements and for AS90, a Desertisation Upgrade Pack.
	Military clothing must meet or exceed the relevant European and British quality standards and performance characteristics. Garments are tested for conformity and, for operational clothes, trials are conducted by the user in the required environmental conditions.
	The UK C-17 aircraft is an Off-the-Shelf solution to meet the Short Term Strategic Airlift Requirement. The aircraft has been designed, developed, tested and cleared by Boeing and the United States Air Force to operate in a wide range of environments including extreme heat and desert conditions.
	The main tactical radio communications system currently in use in the land environment is the Clansman family of radios and ancillaries. Designed for operations, over a temperature range of -40 to +55 degrees centigrade, in combat zones anywhere in the world, Clansman remains just as capable as it always has been to meet the requirement it was delivered against. The Design Authorities provided the temperature operating range when the equipment was procured in the 1970s.
	Ptarmigan has been the army's deployable trunk communications system since 1985 and was designed to operate in North West Europe. The three major installations, which provide the backbone of the system, operate primarily within a temperature range of -32 to +45 degrees centigrade. The Ptarmigan system was not designed for the desert environment, but the purchase of additional Generators, Air Conditioners, Thermal Screening Panels, when required, has enabled the system to operate adequately in the desert environment.
	The Personal Role Radio (PRR) was first deployed in July 2001. It is designed to meet any environment in which individual soldiers could realistically expect to operate and survive. In particular within a temperature range up to +55C and in dry and desert conditions. The National Audit Office report on Exercise SAIF SAREEA II (paragraph 2.8) states that the PRR performed very well.

Armed Forces Personnel

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made to increase the numbers of (a) engineers, (b) signallers and (c) medical services in the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The Armed Forces undertake numerous and varied recruiting and retention initiatives designed to improve the manning levels of all trades and specialisations which are experiencing, or which are predicted to encounter, shortfalls. Those undertaken to boost levels of engineers, signallers and medical services personnel are bearing fruit. In the Army, in the first six months of 2002–2003, RE enlistments are up 33 per cent., REME enlistments up 24 per cent., R Signals enlistments up 24 per cent. and AMS enlistments up by 7 per cent., over the corresponding period last year. These specialist groups are amongst those that are subject to close scrutiny because of the potential impact that any shortfalls might have on operational capability.

Defence Bills Agency

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the performance targets for the Defence Bills Agency for the financial year 2002–03 will be revised following the appointment of a new chief executive.

Lewis Moonie: The Department and the new Chief Executive have reviewed the targets set for the Defence Bills Agency for the financial year 2002–2003. As a result, it was decided that there was scope for further tightening of the already high standards of service provided by the Agency since its formation in 1996. The Key Targets are now as follows:
	1. To make a progressive reduction in the unit costs of output for bills and invoices of between 15 per cent. and 20 per cent. by March 2004; specific annual targets to be agreed with the Owner.
	2. Produce accounting and financial information to the ISO 9001–2000 quality standard and to the times set out in the 1999 Service Level Agreement with MOD Centre.
	3. To pay 99.9 per cent. of correctly presented bills within 11 calendar days of receipt as part of the Department's 30-day payment target.
	4. To raise 97 per cent. of invoices accurately within 4 days of receipt of a correctly authorised claimable document.
	5. Reduce the overdue collectable debt to 35 per cent. of total collectable debt (based on a 6 month rolling average).
	6. To make a progressive improvement of at least 2 per cent. in the overall level of customer satisfaction compared with the targets set in 2000–2001.
	The change to key target number 3 is an effective increase in the challenge to the Agency since previous performance was rounded to the nearest per cent.

Housing

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much military service personnel housing is owned by his Department in (a) the UK and (b) overseas.

Lewis Moonie: pursuant to his reply, 19 September 2002, Official Report, column 316W. The figure for housing in England, Scotland and Wales was incorrect. This figure should have read 52,600 not 2,600 as printed in the Official Report. Similarly, the number of Quarters owned or leased by the Ministry of Defence under PFI arrangements should read 7,600, not 7,000.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Ken Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the assistance pledged for Afghanistan at Tokyo in January has been provided; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: At the Tokyo conference in January 2002, bilateral and multilateral donors pledged a total of $4.5 billion (about #2.9 billion) over five years, for both reconstruction and continuing humanitarian needs. The UK pledge was #200 million (about $285 million) over 5 years. Of the $1.8 billion pledged at Tokyo for 2002, the UN estimate that just over $1.3 billion (60 per cent.) has so far been disbursed. Humanitarian appeals are currently funded at between 75 per cent. and 90 per cent. for the larger UN agencies; however, initial estimates contained in the UN Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme document are now widely perceived to be an underestimate, as needs are likely to increase with the coming winter.
	I have increased our commitment from #1.8 million to #55 million this financial year for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Afghanistan. Of this amount, about #21.5 million has already been disbursed, mainly through UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs, for humanitarian and early recovery assistance. We have also channelled #10 million through the World Bank's Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. Of the additional #15 million recently made available for this financial year, #11 million will help meet immediate needs, including support for the on-going refugee return programme and humanitarian requirements throughout the forthcoming winter. I have also placed a Briefing on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Equality Commission

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decisions he has reached on appointments to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: The reappointment of sixteen of the existing Commissioners, including the Chief Commissioner, Joan Harbison, and the Deputy Chief Commissioner, Bronagh Hinds took effect on 16 August 2002.
	The other Commissioners reappointed are:
	Jeremy Bryson
	Harry Coll
	Paul Donaghy
	Alan Henry
	John Heron
	Ann Hope
	Ruth Lavery
	Stephen Livingstone
	Margaret Logue
	Harry McConnell
	Robin Mullan
	Bob Osborne
	Monica Wilson
	Noreen Wright
	The reappointments are for varying terms of up to three years. In addition, the Secretary of State proposes to advertise for new appointments to the Commission in the next few months. In this way we hope to ensure the optimum balance between continuity and fresh thinking on the Commission as it continues its important task of promoting equality of opportunity.

Oversight Commissioner Report

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the latest report received from the Oversight Commissioner.

Jane Kennedy: The Oversight Commissioner's second statutory report for 2002 was published on 10 September and a copy was laid before the House in accordance with section 68(4)(a) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.

CABINET OFFICE

The Royal Prerogative

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will issue guidance to Government Departments requiring them to keep records of every decision taken using the Royal Prerogative and to place such records in the Library every 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer provided by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 802W.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

National Forest Company

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will report on the National Forest Company's progress in creating the National Forest in the East Midlands.

Margaret Beckett: I have arranged for copies of the National Forest Company's Annual Report and its Accounts for 2001–2002 to be placed in the House libraries.

Habitats Directive

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes are planned to improve implementation of EC Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) where European-protected species are found on development sites in England.

Elliot Morley: The Government has decided it is necessary to make improvements to the arrangements for the implementation of the Habitats Directive in respect of European protected species and the land-use planning regime in England.
	We are proposing, with the agreement of my noble Friend, Lord Rooker, Minister for Planning, to improve the protection afforded to these threatened species by integrating the requirements of the Directive within the land-use planning process, ensuring consideration of all the relevant issues within the planning process rather than in two separate regimes. Officials in Defra and the ODPM have worked closely together in drawing up the proposals and a public consultation will be published shortly.
	The proposals should improve the implementation of the Habitats Directive by ensuring that planning authorities take the Directive's provisions relating to European protected species, such as great crested newts and bats, fully into account in considering development applications. The proposals will also reduce the regulatory burden on business by integrating the two regimes and thereby removing the need for a separate consent to be sought following grant of planning permission. It will therefore be a quicker, more streamlined and effective process.
	In the interim period, our Department will continue to operate the licensing system for developments affecting European protected species but with some administrative improvements.

Slaughtering

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates slaughters have occurred on dangerous contact premises since 30 September 2001; if she will list (a) the number of premises and animals involved on each occasion broken down by type, (b) the numbers tested, with details of the types of test carried out and the results on each occasion, (c) the locations of the disposal sites of carcasses and method of disposal and (d) the number of premises and animals that were additionally slaughtered out on other premises as a result of the identification of infection of premises relating to these activities; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		Slaughters that have occurred on dangerous contact premises since the last case of foot and mouth disease on 30 September 2001
		
			 Date individual seropositive animal bled Reason for testing Initial Result Rebleed requested No. of animals at time of sampling No. of animals slaughtered Method of disposal Location of disposal site Probang sample and Final result 
		
		
			 01/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 57 57 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 04/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 653 1 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 09/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 100 95 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 12/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 402 387 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 16/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 176 2 goats Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 20/10/01 Pre-movement Seropositive Yes 266 1 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 24/10/01 Pre-movement Seropositive Yes 105 1 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 26/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 1280 1 sheep Mass burial Tow Law No virus detected by probang 
			 30/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 148 1 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 31/10/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 407 360 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 4/11/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 2067 9 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 05/11/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 129 129 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 05/11/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 2000 1 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 6/11/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 584 68 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 17/11/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 591 1 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 04/12/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 1539 1 sheep Render Lancaster No virus detected by probang 
			 18/12/01 Serosurveillance Seropositive Yes 2067 2067 sheep Render Bradford No virus detected by probang 
			 03/01/02 Pre-movement test Seropositive Yes 332 2 sheep Render Bradford No virus detected by probang 
			 17/01/02 Restocking Seropositive Yes 156 1 sheep Render Widnes No virus detected by probang 
			 15/02/02 Restocking Seropositive Yes 170 1 sheep Incineration Stratford-Upon-Avon No virus detected by probang 
			 05/03/02 Restocking Seropositive Yes 424 1 sheep Incineration Stratford-Upon-Avon No virus detected by probang 
		
	
	Notes:
	The tests used was the Competitive ELISA test.
	Seropositives had probang tests carried out after slaughter. This was to try and isolate virus rather than just antibody.
	All probangs returned negative results.
	If a positive result had returned the farm would have been designated an Infected Premises.
	No premises were slaughtered out as dangerous contacts as a result of these cases.

Timber

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she provides on the timber procurement strategy.

Michael Meacher: Advice on the timber procurement strategy is currently given in Section 3 of the Green Guide for Buyers. A copy is on the ''Sustainable Development in Government'' web site, which also includes other guidance on the subject. URL:http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/contextf.htm.
	My officials have also provided Departments with a model specification clause for inclusion in contracts for timber procurement. Ministers do however recognise that better guidance is required if buyers are to be fully equipped to resolve the complexities involved in procuring timber and timber products from legal and sustainably managed sources. This is one of the issues addressed by consultants in their report on the timber scoping study that was commissioned by Defra in October 2001 and is currently under consideration. A copy of the report is on the Tropical Forest Forum's web site. Look in Forum activities/Trade/Timber Trade at http://www.forestforum.org.uk.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Education Maintenance Allowance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many educational maintenance allowances are available; and at what annual cost.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 15 October 2002
	Education Maintenance Allowances are available to all those young people who are resident in a pilot area, who meet the relevant eligibility criteria for that particular pilot and who meet the conditions of their Learning Agreement. The actual amount the young person receives also depends on the particular variant being piloted in their area. Take-up of EMA varies from one LEA area to another depending on the variant being tested and on the level of marketing carried out by the LEA and other local partners. In the last academic year over 120,000 young people benefited from EMA across all pilot areas. This figure will increase again this year when the pilot scheme reaches steady state with two cohorts of young people in all 56 areas. The cost of the scheme, including evaluation and other related pilot activity, was slightly over #99 million for the last financial year.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she has completed evaluation of the pilot education maintenance allowances.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 15 October 2002
	The evaluation of the EMA pilots began in Spring 1999 and is scheduled for completion next year. The evaluation was designed with two purposes. The first was to determine how effective an EMA approach was in increasing participation, retention and achievement amongst young people from low-income families. The second was to provide evidence on the most effective aspects of the various models being tested.
	Evidence from the first two years of the pilots shows that EMAs increased participation in full-time education in Year 12 by 5.9 percentage points among eligible young people. The participation gain was further increased to 7.3 percentage points in Year 13. On this basis we decided to extend EMAs nationally from September 2004. We are now looking to further evidence to inform the development of the most effective model for national implementation.

Full-time Education

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the definition which she uses of full-time education.

David Miliband: There is no legal definition of full-time education for state maintained schools. In providing full-time education to pupils, LEAs should look to DfES Circulars 7/90 and 11/99 as to the number of hours recommended for pupils at each key stage. Neither circular imposes a statutory requirement on LEAs, but provides guidance only. Circular 7/90 establishes a general guide to good practice on lesson time, which OFSTED echo in their guidance. The suggested weekly lesson times are as follows:
	
		
			 Age Hours 
		
		
			 5–7 21 
			 8–11 23.5 
			 12–14 24 
			 14–16 25 
		
	
	Information on Circulars 7/90 and 11/99 can be accessed at www.dfes.gov.uk/guidanceonthelaw/
	For further education purposes, students classified for statistical purposes as full-time are defined as those enrolled on programmes of at least 450 guided learning hours per year, or for at least 150 guided learning hours per tri-annual period or more than 16 guided learning hours per week for shorter courses.
	For higher education, the Higher Education Statistics Agency's definition is:
	''The Funding Councils have agreed that a common definition of full-time is that the years of programme of study must involve a minimum of 24 weeks study.''

Student Loans

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will provide monthly loans payments to higher education students.

Margaret Hodge: We have no plans to do so for 2003/04. Nevertheless, we are looking at what flexibility on payments might be introduced later as part of our programme to modernise student support.

16–19-Year-Olds

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of full-time students stayed in education in the Huntingdon constituency after the age of (a) 16 and (b) 18 years in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2001.

Margaret Hodge: Data on the percentage of students staying on in full-time education are not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs as reliable estimates cannot be made. Participation rates at sub-national level are only available for 16 and 17 year olds. The latest available data are for end 1999 and are published in the annual statistical bulletin, ''Participation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England''.
	Huntingdon constituency is part of Cambridgeshire LEA. Prior to 1998/99 Cambridgeshire LEA was included in the aggregated Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LEA, therefore two sets of figures are given below. The first columns set out the participation rates for 16 and 17 year olds in full-time education for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LEA at end 1997 and end 1999; the second group for Cambridgeshire LEA at end 1998 and end 1999:
	
		16 and 17 year olds in full-time education
		
			  Cambridgeshire and Peterborough LEA Cambridgeshire LEA 
			 Age end 1997 end 1999 end 1998 end 1999 
		
		
			 16 71 75 71 75 
			 17 62 59 58 60

Local Initiative Fund Scheme

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what allocations of funding were made by the Greater Manchester Learning Skills Council to each of the boroughs under the Local Initiative Fund Scheme for 2001–02.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood the Council's Chief Executive will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

British Educational Communications and Technology Agency

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency Quinquennial Review.

Ivan Lewis: In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the review is being carried out in two stages. I am now in a position to make an announcement about the outcome of Stage 1 and the basis on which work will be taken forward on Stage 2
	The Government has today published the report ''Quinquennial Review of the British Educational and Communications Technology Agency (Becta)—Stage 1 October 2002'', copies of which have been placed in the Library.
	The report underlines Becta's key role in working with the Department for Education and Skills to ensure that schools and colleges take full advantage of every opportunity to exploit the transformational impact of ICT. The work they do is vital in ensuring that schools and colleges are provided with the best possible advice on a range of ICT issues from procuring value for money equipment to managing websites and, most importantly, ensuring that ICT is embedded in every aspect of teaching and learning.
	Many of the recommendations made in the report have already been acted upon by both Becta and the DfES and have been reflected in Becta's Corporate Plan, 2002–05. It provides valuable pointers on the direction in which Becta should be moving. Stage two of the Review will take forward the issues in this report. It will concentrate on the future of Becta, providing greater emphasis on looking at how services and functions could be provided more effectively.
	I am looking forward to continuing to work with Becta on our challenging objectives on ICT in schools and ensure that pupils leave education with the ICT skills necessary for the modern workplace.

Disability Rights

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on actions taken by (a) her Department, (b) other Government departments and (c) education providers in connection with the introduction of disability rights to post-16 education.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 15 October 2002
	The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) exempted educational institutions from its provisions. Through the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, my Department has plugged an unacceptable gap in the DDA to include all bodies responsible for Further and Higher Education and LEA-secured adult and community education, within its provisions.
	We are implementing the new duties in three stages:
	From 1 September 2002 it is unlawful to discriminate against disabled students by treating them less favourably than others. In addition, responsible bodies have a duty to provide reasonable adjustments to provision where disabled students might otherwise be substantially disadvantaged.
	From 1 September 2003 responsible bodies will have a duty to make adjustments involving the provision of auxiliary aids and services.
	From 1 September 2005 responsible bodies will have a duty to make adjustments to physical features of premises where these put disabled students at a substantial disadvantage.
	My Department is working with the Disability Rights Commission, the Learning and Skills Council, the Higher Education Funding Council and other partners in the post-16 sector, to support providers in implementing the new duties with additional funding and guidance. #172m has been allocated over the years 2002–04.

Infant Classes

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children under the age of five years are being taught in infant classes in primary education, broken down by local education authority.

David Miliband: The available information for maintained primary schools is shown in the table along with, for completeness, figures for under 5's in maintained nursery schools and classes.
	
		Number of Three and Four Year Olds 1 , 2  in Maintained Nursery and Primary Schools January 2002 (Provisional)
		
			  Pupils in nursery schools and nursery classes Pupils in infant classes in primary schools 3  All pupils under 5 in nursery and primary schools 
		
		
			 ENGLAND 341,221 357,496 698,717 
			 NORTH EAST 28,990 19,452 48,442 
			 Darlington 1,214 798 2,012 
			 Durham 5,279 3,686 8,965 
			 Gateshead 1,837 1,422 3,259 
			 Hartlepool 1,248 740 1,988 
			 Middlesbrough 2,166 1,185 3,351 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,488 1,860 4,348 
			 North Tyneside 2,336 1,499 3,835 
			 Northumberland 2,880 2,410 5,290 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 2,031 1,077 3,108 
			 South Tyneside 1,821 1,184 3,005 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2,330 1,451 3,781 
			 Sunderland 3,360 2,140 5,500 
			 NORTH WEST 54,226 53,532 107,758 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1,363 1,358 2,721 
			 Blackpool 428 1,094 1,522 
			 Bolton 2,721 2,215 4,936 
			 Bury 1,527 1,390 2,917 
			 Cheshire 3,073 4,999 8,072 
			 Cumbria 3,314 3,520 6,834 
			 Halton 815 937 1,752 
			 Knowsley 2,438 1,309 3,747 
			 Lancashire 5,817 8,737 14,554 
			 Liverpool 4,756 3,390 8,146 
			 Manchester 5,368 3,448 8,816 
			 Oldham 2,198 2,075 4,273 
			 Rochdale 1,904 1,778 3,682 
			 Salford 2,442 1,863 4,305 
			 Sefton 2,566 2,118 4,684 
			 St. Helens 1,479 1,414 2,893 
			 Stockport 2,378 2,164 4,542 
			 Tameside 2,173 1,820 3,993 
			 Trafford 2,120 1,620 3,740 
			 Warrington 1,253 1,558 2,811 
			 Wigan 1,986 2,342 4,328 
			 Wirral 2,107 2,383 4,490 
			 YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER 48,330 35,763 84,093 
			 Barnsley 3,010 796 3,806 
			 Bradford 6,333 4,130 10,463 
			 Calderdale 1,678 1,652 3,330 
			 Doncaster 3,225 2,412 5,637 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,012 1,838 3,850 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 3,285 1,359 4,644 
			 Kirklees 3,463 3,348 6,811 
			 Leeds 7,224 5,532 12,756 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,700 949 2,649 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,283 921 2,204 
			 North Yorkshire 2,460 4,188 6,648 
			 Rotherham 2,667 2,048 4,715 
			 Sheffield 4,502 3,770 8,272 
			 Wakefield 4,458 1,635 6,093 
			 York 1,030 1,185 2,215 
			 EAST MIDLANDS 30,966 27,738 58,704 
			 Derby 2,708 1,709 4,417 
			 Derbyshire 5,611 5,355 10,966 
			 Leicester 3,898 1,750 5,648 
			 Leicestershire 224 4,746 4,970 
			 Lincolnshire 2,461 5,003 7,464 
			 Northamptonshire 3,281 5,051 8,332 
			 Nottingham 4,671 774 5,445 
			 Nottinghamshire 8,009 3,126 11,135 
			 Rutland 103 224 327 
			 WEST MIDLANDS 42,930 42,478 85,408 
			 Birmingham 10,047 9,236 19,283 
			 Coventry 2,677 2,439 5,116 
			 Dudley 2,959 2,481 5,440 
			 Herefordshire 570 1,177 1,747 
			 Sandwell 4,086 2,578 6,664 
			 Shropshire 1,333 1,064 2,397 
			 Solihull 2,127 1,737 3,864 
			 Staffordshire 3,665 7,284 10,949 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 2,492 1,883 4,375 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1,527 665 2,192 
			 Walsall 3,911 2,225 6,136 
			 Warwickshire 2,054 3,774 5,828 
			 Wolverhampton 3,411 1,934 5,345 
			 Worcestershire 2,071 4,001 6,072 
			 EAST OF ENGLAND 28,564 38,233 66,797 
			 Bedfordshire 2,564 2,713 5,277 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,715 4,112 5,827 
			 Essex 3,770 8,569 12,339 
			 Hertfordshire 10,198 8,523 18,721 
			 Luton 1,631 1,527 3,158 
			 Norfolk 2,703 5,563 8,266 
			 Peterborough 427 1,437 1,864 
			 Southend-on-Sea 769 1,283 2,052 
			 Suffolk 3,746 3,548 7,294 
			 Thurrock 1,041 958 1,999 
			 LONDON 70,921 51,725 122,646 
			 INNER LONDON 30,812 19,887 50,699 
			 Camden 1,270 988 2,258 
			 City of London ... ... ... 
			 Hackney 2,254 1,571 3,825 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,762 540 2,302 
			 Haringey 2,736 1,959 4,695 
			 Islington 1,778 1,358 3,136 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 891 611 1,502 
			 Lambeth 2,635 1,718 4,353 
			 Lewisham 2,698 1,894 4,592 
			 Newham 4,771 2,779 7,550 
			 Southwark 3,109 2,116 5,225 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,209 1,958 5,167 
			 Wandsworth 2,208 1,587 3,795 
			 Westminster 1,491 808 2,299 
			 OUTER LONDON 40,109 31,838 71,947 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,150 1,635 3,785 
			 Barnet 2,577 2,244 4,821 
			 Bexley 1,925 1,822 3,747 
			 Brent 2,480 1,962 4,442 
			 Bromley 342 2,337 2,679 
			 Croydon 2,902 2,646 5,548 
			 Ealing 3,590 2,293 5,883 
			 Enfield 1,928 2,427 4,355 
			 Greenwich 3,273 1,078 4,351 
			 Harrow 1,076 1,533 2,609 
			 Havering 948 1,764 2,712 
			 Hillingdon 3,383 2,002 5,385 
			 Hounslow 2,205 1,708 3,913 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,311 989 2,300 
			 Merton 2,037 1,234 3,271 
			 Redbridge 2,491 1,940 4,431 
			 Richmond upon Thames 840 1,121 1,961 
			 Sutton 1,844 53 1,897 
			 Waltham Forest 2,807 1,050 3,857 
			 SOUTH EAST 23,843 52,900 76,743 
			 Bracknell Forest 767 243 1,010 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,127 1,577 2,704 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,364 3,661 5,025 
			 East Sussex 775 3,433 4,208 
			 Hampshire 785 9,278 10,063 
			 Isle of Wight 158 894 1,052 
			 Kent 1,914 10,573 12,487 
			 Medway 589 2,202 2,791 
			 Milton Keynes 783 1,670 2,453 
			 Oxfordshire 3,567 1,765 5,332 
			 Portsmouth 611 1,379 1,990 
			 Reading 1,759 156 1,915 
			 Slough 1,740 736 2,476 
			 Southampton 473 1,575 2,048 
			 Surrey 3,568 7,312 10,880 
			 West Berkshire 840 752 1,592 
			 West Sussex 1,169 5,194 6,363 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 1,045 97 1,142 
			 Wokingham 809 403 1,212 
			 SOUTH WEST 12,451 35,675 48,126 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 385 1,199 1,584 
			 Bournemouth 350 1,019 1,369 
			 Bristol, City of 3,553 2,787 6,340 
			 Cornwall 1,652 3,637 5,289 
			 Devon 1,899 4,628 6,527 
			 Dorset 290 2,482 2,772 
			 Gloucestershire 124 4,102 4,226 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 15 15 
			 North Somerset 262 1,334 1,596 
			 Plymouth 984 1,837 2,821 
			 Poole 131 925 1,056 
			 Somerset 655 3,694 4,349 
			 South Gloucestershire 473 2,144 2,617 
			 Swindon 605 1,610 2,215 
			 Torbay 661 857 1,518 
			 Wiltshire 427 3,405 3,832 
		
	
	Notes:
	1Headcount of children aged three and four at 31st December in the previous calendar year.
	2Includes two year olds.
	3Includes reception and other classes not designated as nursery classes
	... Not available. Data not reported by City of London Local Education Authority.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

University Tuition Fees

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much university tuition fees are what they will be next year; and what plans she has to increase this amount.

Margaret Hodge: In the academic year 2002/03, the maximum student contribution towards tuition fees for full-time undergraduates in England and Wales attending courses at publicly funded institutions of higher education is #1,100. This represents a 2.4 per cent. increase over the corresponding fee rate for the previous year. Fee rates are uprated annually on the basis of price inflation; those for 2003/04 are due to be announced in December.

Student Finance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when she will publish her review of student finance.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 15 October 2002
	We plan to publish our review of student finance later in the Autumn, as part of the strategy document setting out our 10-year vision for the development and reform of higher education.

Skills Council

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to create a sector skills council for the voluntary sector.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 15 October 2002
	The Sector Skills Development Agency is responsible for discussing and assessing proposals for Sector Skills Councils made by employers. The Agency then advises government about the award of a Sector Skills Council licence having fully considered the strength of the proposal in meeting the rigorous Sector Skills Council standard. Discussions are currently taking place between voluntary sector representatives and the Agency about the prospect of a strong proposal for a Sector Skills Council or what alternative arrangements might better serve this broad sector.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Court Service

Joan Humble: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she intends to publish the Court Service Annual report and Accounts for 2001–02.

Yvette Cooper: The Court Service Annual Report and Accounts for 2001–2002 has been published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pensions (EU Objectives)

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made against the 11 EU objectives for pension systems.

Ian McCartney: A copy of the UK National Strategy Report on pensions was placed in the Library on 19 September 2002. The Report is the UK's contribution to the exchange of information and best practice on pensions between Member States agreed by the European Council at Laeken in December 2001. It contains information on current pensions policy.

Major Accident Hazards Directive

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the European Commission proposal to amend Directive 96/82/EC on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances.

Nick Brown: The Seveso II Directive on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances aims to prevent major accidents and limit their consequences for human health and the environment. Pressure to amend the Directive follows a number of recent accidents involving dangerous substances.
	The House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee recommended that the UK's handling of two of the provisions within the European Commission proposal should be subject to a debate by European Standing Committee A. This was due to take place on 15 October, but has been postponed.
	Political Agreement to a Council Common Position on the proposal will be reached at the Environment Council on 17 October.

Social Security Advisory Committee

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for reviewing the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Andrew Smith: In line with normal practice for periodic review of non-departmental public bodies, I have asked that a review be conducted of the Social Security Advisory Committee which begins today. The review will look at the rationale for establishing the Committee, its past performance and its organisational structure. It will consider the role of the organisation in the future and may make recommendations for change.
	I have appointed Professor Hazel Genn to act as independent reviewer. We will be taking views from interested parties through a consultation exercise. I am sure the review will produce interesting and helpful results.

State Retirement Pension

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate the value of the basic state retirement pension if the retirement age were raised to (a) 70 years and (b) 75 years of age and if the pension tax credit were abolished in its first full year of implementation and the savings used to increase the basic state retirement pension;
	(2)  if he will estimate the value of the basic state retirement pension if Government spending on the basic state pension for 2002–03 were kept constant but the retirement age was raised to (a) 70 years and (b) 75 years of age;
	(3)  if he will estimate the saving in expenditure on the basic state retirement pension in 2002–03 if the retirement age were raised to (a) 70 and (b) 75 years of age.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 24 July 2002
	Currently, State Pension Age is 60 for women and 65 for men, but this will be equalised at age 65 from 2020 with gradual introduction from 2010. It will not be possible to raise the State Pension Age further until 2020. Assuming the same phasing in period (ie ten years to raise the SPA by five years) then at 2030, if the State Pension Age was raised to 70, the Basic State Pension could be around #120 in today's prices. Similarly, if, by April 2040 the State Pension Age was 75, the Basic State Pension could be around #190 in today's prices.
	The Government Actuary's Department estimate that if the state pension age were raised gradually from 65 in 2020 to 70 in 2030 around 1.9 million people who are alive today would reach age 65 in the future but would not be expected to reach the relevant revised state pension age.
	If the state pension age were raised from 65 in 2020 to 70 in 2030 and to 75 in 2040 around 4.4 million people who are alive today would reach age 65 in the future but would not be expected to reach the relevant revised state pension age.
	These figures assume that a change in the state pension age is fully phased in by 2030–40 and that all savings from not paying State Pension prior to these ages, including money allocated to the Pension Credit, are used to pay the Basic State Pension. In addition, these figures ignore the effects on other benefits.
	Notes:
	1 Figures are for 2020 in 2002 prices.
	2 The calculations are based on the scenario 1 costs of the Pension Credit in 2020 set out in the DWP publication ''The Pension Credit: Long-term projections''.
	3 Figures take account of current uprating policy.
	4 Note 4 Source: 2000-based population projections for Great Britain.

Stakeholder Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many stakeholder pensions have now been taken out; and what their distribution is by convenient income bands of (a) the participant, (b) their spouse and (c) their parents.

Ian McCartney: holding answer on 15 October 2002
	Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that up to the end of June 2002 1,011,934 stakeholder pension policies had been sold. A breakdown of distribution by income bands is not available. However figures published by the ABI in March 2002 show that in cases where earnings of policyholders are known to providers, then the majority of them (60 per cent.) have earnings of between #10,000 and #30,000 a year. Official figures from the Inland Revenue showing the earning bands of policyholders in the 2001–2002 tax year are expected to be available by the end of the current tax year.

Disability Living Allowance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 96W, on disability living allowance, how many applicants whose initial claim for disability living allowance was rejected in Portsmouth, South appealed against the rejection in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Disability Living Allowance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applicants for disability living allowance were (a) granted, (b) unsuccessful, (c) granted on appeal and (d) granted on review in the Portsmouth, South constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Ageing (Madrid Plan)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002, adopted by EU ministers on 13 September;
	(2)  If he will publish an action plan to take forward the recommendations of the Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002, adopted by EU ministers on 13 September.

Ian McCartney: The Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 was adopted by UNECE Ministers on 13 September. The Government believes that existing policies for older people will provide the basis for progress towards the ten priorities of the Regional Strategy.
	The Strategy aims to support member states' response to the challenges and opportunities of population ageing, in order to achieve a society for all ages. It does not set mandatory requirements, nor does it require member states to produce action plans to take forward the recommendations. UNECE member states will determine follow up arrangements in line with decisions made by the Commission for Social Development of the UN.

New Deal 50-plus

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 97W, on the New Deal 50-plus programme, how far his Department has extended its use of the New Deal 50-plus programme to support its staff recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: In July 2002 the New Deal 50-plus programme was extended across the whole of the Department for Work and Pensions. Guidance was issued to encourage managers to employ participants from across the New Deal programmes including New Deal 50-plus.
	Participants on New Deal 50-plus will receive training and support to help them compete effectively at Fair & Open competition to become a permanent employee. It is therefore hoped that many of our New Deal employees (including those from the 50-plus category) will secure permanent employment with the Department.
	By next summer we aim to recruit sufficient people across all our New Deal programmes to reflect the Department's proportionate share in the labour market. Data will be available on our progress towards this later this year.

HEALTH

Generic Medicine Prices

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the statutory maximum price scheme covering generic medicines supplied for use in the NHS in primary care.

David Lammy: We are today announcing a review of the maximum price scheme. A copy of the consultation letter setting out the Government's proposals and timetable to roll the scheme forward, unchanged, has been placed in the Library.

Elective Hospital Spells

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the activity levels were in the quarter to (a) March 2000 and (b) March 2001 for (i) general and (ii) acute elective hospital spells.

John Hutton: There is no distinction made between general and acute elective hospital spells. All elective spells are acute other than geriatric medicine. The figures requested are available on the Department's website at www.doh.gsi.gov.uk/hes.

Reservists

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact upon the NHS of the call-up of military reservists during the Gulf War; and how many (a) nurses, (b) GPs, (c) medical consultants and (d) other health care professionals were subject to call-up as reservists.

John Hutton: The Department has not made an assessment of the impact on the National Health Service of the call up of military reservists during the Gulf War, and did not collect information about the number of reservists who were subject to call up.

Delayed Discharge and Energy Readmission

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level the fines for (a) social services and (b) NHS trusts will be for (i) emergency readmissions and (ii) delayed discharges; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The consultation on reimbursement for delayed discharge closed on the 18 September. In the consultation document it was suggested that the reimbursement for delayed discharge should be #120 per day in London and the South East and #100 throughout the rest of England. The consultation document also suggested that there should be no charge for emergency readmissions since these would be treated as part of the same episode of care under the new financial flows regime due to be implemented from 2004. If a National Health Service trust discharges a patient too early, they will face the risk that the patient will be readmitted, and the hospital will face the additional costs it incurs for this readmission.

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the delays in Criminal Records Bureau checks on (a) social workers, (b) other social care staff and (c) voluntary health organisations working with children; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I am aware of the current delays in processing checks by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The Department is working across government with the CRB to minimise the effect this has on workers in all sectors who require checks.

Ethical Foreign Nurse Recruitment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number and percentage of (a) recruitment agencies and (b) overseas nurses that are part of the ethical nurse recruitment code of practice.

John Hutton: The Department has written to 92 agencies informing them that it is compiling a list of recruitment agencies. So far 30 recruitment agencies have been placed on this list who are complying with the code of practice.
	All nurses from abroad should be recruited into the National Health Service in accordance with the code of practice.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 148W, on mental health, if he will list the additional financial resources that are planned for the appointment of mental health workers for the next year; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Decisions on funding for mental health workers for next year will be made later in the Autumn as part of the work on primary care trusts allocations and central budgets.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many graduate primary care mental health workers trained in brief therapy techniques, as outlined in the NHS Plan have been employed in each of the last years; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The NHS Plan set out that one thousand new graduate primary care mental health workers trained in brief therapy techniques of proven effectiveness will be employed by 2004 to help general practitioners manage and treat common mental health problems in all age groups, including children. Funds to support the appointment of 1000 such staff will be allocated in 2003–4. Central information on the number appointed is not yet available. This year, #2.5 million has been made available to establish new training programmes to support the new workers when they are employed. This initiative is being led by Trent workforce development confederation and information about the process is due to be placed on the web site very shortly.

Care Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential child care staff were qualified at GNVQ level 3 by March; and how many still needed to be qualified to NVQ level 3 as per the requirement set out in The Government's Objectives for Children's Social Services.

Jacqui Smith: The application forms for the training support programme grant that local councils completed in April 2002 provide the following data about residential child care staff and national vocational qualifications (NVQs):
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Number who have achieved their NVQ Level 3 2,020 
			 Number who need to obtain their NVQ Level 3 7,592 
		
	
	However, the above figures do not include all the residential child care staff in the voluntary and private sectors as we do not collect data from these sectors.
	The National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes includes a standard stating that ''A minimum ratio of 80 per cent. of all care staff have completed their Level 3 in caring for children and young people NVQ by January 2005.'' This standard will be monitored by the National Care Standards Commission during their inspections of all children's homes.

Care Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees were working in (a) social services departments, (b) residential care, (c) domiciliary care and (d) intermediate care in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Data on the numbers of employees working on intermediate care services, and the numbers of staff working in the independent care sector are not available centrally. The whole-time equivalent numbers of staff employed by local authorities in social services departments, residential care services and domiciliary care services between 1997 and 2001 (the latest date for which data are available) are shown in the table.
	
		wte
		
			 Year (as at 30 September) Social Services Departments Residential Care Domiciliary Services 
		
		
			 1997 229,400 65,400 53,600 
			 1998 223,500 62,100 50,500 
			 1999 221,700 59,200 47,200 
			 2000 217,500 56,600 42,900 
			 2001 212,000 53,800 40,200 
		
	
	Source:
	Form SSDS001.

Parliamentary Questions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many statistical tables requested by hon. Members in parliamentary questions have been placed in the Library and not been published in the Official Report in the last five years.

David Lammy: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The Department places in the Library any attachments to answers, such as statistical tables or published documents, whose excessive length or complicated format precludes their inclusion in the Official Report. This is standard practice across Government Departments. Such documents are also routinely made available on the Department's website wherever possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many CAMHS in-patient beds were provided in each year since 1997 (a) in total, (b) in England and (c) in each local authority; how many are planned to be provided in the next two years; and if he will make a satement.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not collected centrally in the form requested. The table gives the average daily number of available beds in wards classified as children: mental illness, in National Health Service trusts in England for the years 1996–97 to 2000–01.
	The provision of child and adolescent mental health in-patient facilities is being considered as part of the development of the new children's national service framework, on which work is proceeding. We will be increasing the number of secure adolescent mental health beds by 24 in a new unit in Birmingham by autumn 2003.
	
		Average daily number of available beds in wards classified as children: mental illness, NHS trusts in England, 1996–97 to 2000–01
		
			 Year Mental Illness 
		
		
			 1996–97 538 
			 1997–98 522 
			 1998–99 538 
			 1999–00(1) 482 
			 2000–01 531 
		
	
	Note:
	Beds in wards classified as children's mental illness do not cover all the child and adolescent mental health services provision available. Some facilities designed for older adolescents may be included in ''other ages'' mental illness.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03
	(1) 1999–00 data were incomplete.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) amount and (b) proportion of mental health expenditure has been on child and adolescent services for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the adequacy of this expenditure.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available for the last five years. However our estimate for the likely mental health expenditure in 2001–02 and the proportion spent on child and adolescent mental health services is shown in the table, with an estimate on the personal social services (PSS) expenditure.
	We appreciate that child and adolescent mental health services still need to be developed further. The work being taken forward by the child and adolescent mental health external working group of the children's national service framework will do much to inform our future expenditure.
	
		Estimated Mental Health Expenditure 2001/2 # million -- (per cent.)
		
			  CAMHS Adult MH Elderly Total 
		
		
			 HCHS 289 3171 194 3654 
			  (8%) (87%) (5%) (100%) 
			 PSS 269 678 376 1323 
			  (20%) (51%) (28%) (100%) 
			  
			 Total 558 3849 570 4977 
			  (11%) (77%) (12%) (100%) 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) costs exclude the costs of primary care and drugs.
	2. Personal Social Services (PSS) costs include Children's Social Services (CSS) costs where appropriate.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2002, Official Report, column 129W, on CAMHS innovation projects, what the publication date is for the overview report of the CAMHS innovation plan; and if he will make a statement on its launch at the national conference.

Jacqui Smith: The report will be published on 4 December, the day of the National Conference.

Older People's Taskforce

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) former members of and (b) new appointees to the Older People's Taskforce; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The former members of the older people's taskforce are:
	Mr. Harry Cayton, chief executive Alzheimers Society
	Dr. Peter Melton, general practitioner, Lincolnshire
	Mr. David Panter, then Chief Executive Hillingdon Primary Care Trust
	Mr. Chai Patel, Westminster Healthcare
	Mrs. Beth Taylor, pharmacy manager, South London Community National Health Service Trust
	Mr. David White, then chief executive Suffolk Health Authority
	The new appointees to the older people's taskforce are:
	Ms Wendy Harris, pharmacist
	Mr. Stan Davidson/Mrs. Jean Wormwell (alternates), Older People's Reference Group
	Mr. Richard Humphries, director, Health and Social Care Change Agents team
	Ms Diana Whitworth, chief executive, Carers UK
	The older people's taskforce plays an important role advising the Department on the implementation of policy for older people's services across the NHS and social care.

Health and Social Workers (Overseas Recruitment)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to ensure that overseas-recruited (a) health workers and (b) social workers who are working with children have not been convicted of an offence that relates to crimes against children.

Jacqui Smith: Health Service Circular HSC 2002/008, Pre and Post Appointment Checks for All Persons Working in the NHS in England, instructs National Health Service bodies through the Secretary of State's power of direction to carry out a comprehensive range of pre and post appointment checks before appointments are confirmed. This includes the appointment of staff recruited from overseas. Where the post involves care of children within the terms of the Protection of Children Act, employers must check the Protection of Children Act List before making the appointment. In addition, before taking up such a post, applicants must inform the appointing NHS body if they have been convicted or charged with a criminal offence in the United Kingdom or in any other country. Failure to do so may be a dismissible offence.
	The Criminal Records Bureau will soon be launching an advisory service to employers about the availability of criminal record checks in a variety of countries.
	Equally it is the duty of individual social care employers to carry out necessary checks to ensure that employees recruited from oversees are fit to practice.

Health and Social Workers (Overseas Recruitment)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue a code of practice for social services departments recruiting social workers from other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: There are no current plans to issue a special code of practice covering recruitment from other countries. The onus is on the employer to ensure that all recruits meet appropriate standards, wherever they originate from.
	At present the general social care council offers an ''international recognition service'' which can provide advice to employers on the status and standing of qualifications gained in other countries, for example that a certificate is or is not a professional qualification in social work in its country of origin. It is then for the employers to complete the usual recruitment checks verifying the information given by the applicant.

Health and Social Workers (Overseas Recruitment)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the conclusions of his assessment of the performance of the Director for International Recruitment in the year 2001–02.

John Hutton: holding reply issued on 22 July 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 22 July 2002, Official Report, vol. 389, column 875W

Hospitals (Smoking Ban)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a ban on smoking in hospitals and in hospital grounds.

Hazel Blears: Many National Health Service trusts have already banned smoking in their hospitals and hospital grounds and the government have set milestones for implementing smoking policies across the NHS as part of the national service framework on coronary heart disease.
	The government is currently considering a comprehensive survey to provide a clear and up to date picture of the current situation across the NHS and to assist in determining what further action should be taken.
	Any decisions on further action will need to be taken against the background that the purchase and smoking of cigarettes is not illegal in this country.

TRANSPORT

Lighthouses

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport into which of the north/south implementation bodies established as part of the British–Irish Agreement the Commissioners for Irish Lights has been incorporated.

David Jamieson: The Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ireland establishing Implementation Bodies of 8 March 1999, provides that one of the North/South Implementation Bodies, the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, will exercise the existing functions of the Commissioners of Irish Lights in respect of providing and maintaining aids to navigation along the coast of the whole of the island of Ireland and its adjacent seas and islands. The Agreement provides that the legislation required to transfer those functions to the Body will be brought forward as soon as possible.
	However, following consideration of the matter by a working group of officials from my Department, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and relevant Irish Government Departments, it has become apparent that complex issues surround such a transfer. The North/South Ministerial Council has asked the relevant Ministers and Departments in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government to examine the alternative possibilities and bring back proposals to the Council.

Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of additional houses that would be needed if the Cliffe airport option is adopted as (a) two runways and (b) four runways.

David Jamieson: Our analysis suggests that with forecast housing growth, relatively high rates of unemployment, in and out commuting from the relevant catchment areas, the airport's employment needs could be met with fairly limited additional housing development.
	A more detailed assessment of the housing implications (including an assessment for 2015—at which stage only two of the four runways are assumed to be in place) is set out in the SERAS Land Use and Urbanisation study (section A7). Copies of all the above reports are available in the House libraries.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Homelessness

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets he has set for decent housing and reducing homelessness.

John Prescott: As a result of the 2002 Spending Review, we have a Public Service Agreement target to bring all social housing into decent condition by 2010, and to increase the proportion of private housing occupied by vulnerable groups that meets the decent homes standard.
	We are working with local authorities to ensure that by March 2004, no homeless family with children is housed in B&B accommodation other than in an emergency.

Rural Communities

Mark Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what planning guidance is given to local authorities to permit the maintenance and development of small rural communities.

Tony McNulty: National Planning Policy Guidance encourages local planning authorities to promote healthy, viable rural communities and advises that most new development in rural areas should be focused on accessible local service centres, which may include a group of small villages.

European Structural Funds

Helen Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has to ensure the efficient delivery of Objective One European programmes to support local economies.

Tony McNulty: Structural Fund programmes are delivered through formal Managing Authorities working directly with local partnerships. In England the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is the Managing Authority for all Objective 1 and Objective 2 programmes but devolves implementation to the Government Offices (GOs).
	Officials provide policy guidance and advice in order to aid effective delivery of the financial and physical programme targets.
	Programmes are frequently evaluated and best practice arrangements are in place and extend beyond Objective 1.

Regional Government

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has had in response to the Government's White Paper on Regional Government, Your Region: Your Choice.

Nick Raynsford: To date, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received around 1,100 representations on the White Paper, of which around 200 commented on stakeholder involvement with elected regional assemblies.
	In addition, we have received around 1,500 postcards as a result of a campaign organised by the Cornish Constitutional Convention, which seeks a referendum on establishing a Cornish Assembly.

Regional Government

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Regional Government White Paper.

John Prescott: The White Paper Your Region, Your Choice takes forward our Manifesto commitment to allow the English regions the opportunity to choose whether to establish an elected assembly. We intend to introduce a Bill to provide for regional referendums and associated local government reviews as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Housing

Mr. Stewart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to tackle housing abandonment in the North West.

John Prescott: I am determined to help areas where the housing market has collapsed. That is why this Government has established nine Pathfinder projects dedicated to providing lasting solutions for communities blighted by abandoned homes. Four are located in the North West.

Housing

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his plans for new housing in Kent.

Tony McNulty: It is the responsibility of Kent County Council to decide on housing provision in line with Regional Planning Guidance for the South East issued in March 2001.
	The review of the allocation of housing in the South East, which in the first instance is a matter for the South East England Regional Assembly, will be progressed through the next review of the Regional Planning Guidance.

Housing

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for tackling slum housing in coalfield communities.

John Prescott: We are determined to tackle housing market failure wherever it occurs. Low demand Pathfinder projects will provide lasting solutions for communities blighted by derelict homes through investment and innovation. Three of the recently announced Pathfinders include coalfield communities. More generally, Local Authorities have a vital role in producing comprehensive housing strategies together with action plans to tackle the problems identified.

Housing

Norman Lamb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the provision of affordable housing in rural areas.

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the provision of social housing in rural areas.

Tony McNulty: We recognise the importance of affordable housing in sustaining inclusive and thriving rural communities. We have taken substantial measures to help alleviate housing pressures, as outlined in the Rural White Paper. We expect to deliver around 9,000 affordable homes annually in rural areas by 2003–04, including 3,000 in small rural settlements.

Housing

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on his housing policy in the South East.

John Prescott: Policy on housing in the South East, is set out in Regional Planning Guidance for the South East, which was issued in March 2001.
	I made a statement in July 2002, which covered housing, including London and the South East, and I stated that I would return to the House by the end of the year with a comprehensive long term programme of action.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many (a) detatched houses, (b) semi-detatched houses, (c) terraced houses, (d) maisonettes and (e) flats have been sold by local authorities in London under the right-to-buy scheme since 1980;
	(2)  how many council properties with (a) one bedroom, (b) two bedrooms, (c) three bedrooms, (d) four bedrooms and (e) five bedrooms or more have been sold by local authorities in London under the Right-to-Buy Scheme since 1980.

Tony McNulty: The precise information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Summary information reported by local authorities only distinguishes sales of houses (including bungalows) from flats (including maisonettes). By the end of March 2002, it is estimated slightly more than 246,000 homes had been sold by London boroughs under the RTB scheme, consisting of some 121,500 houses, and 124,500 flats.

Housing

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he intends to take to bring empty private sector houses back into use.

John Prescott: We will shortly publish comprehensive guidance on unlocking the potential of empty properties; we intend to give local authorities powers to end the council tax discount on long-term empty homes; we are giving local authorities a range of new freedoms to assist private housing in poor condition; and we are targeting a package of measures on nine areas of low demand where the problem of abandonment is most acute. In addition, we are considering a range of measures recommended by the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee in its recent report on empty homes.

Standard Spending Assessment

James Plaskitt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on responses to the consultation on reform of the standard spending assessment.

Christopher Leslie: The formal consultation on options for the Formula Grant distribution system closed on the 30 September. We will consider the evidence, the pressures and the points made before we take decisions. Those decisions will be announced in the 2003/04 provisional settlement in due course.

Urban Land

Paul Flynn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what change has taken place since 1997 in the percentage of land in England that is used for urban purposes.

Tony McNulty: In 1997 and 1998 land classified as urban increased by around 5,600 hectares a year, which is less than 0.5 per cent. of the land used for urban purposes and about 0.04 per cent. of England. The information is drawn from the Department's Land Use Change Statistics which in rural areas have a 5-year revision cycle so a complete picture is not available for more recent years.

Mobile Phone Masts

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on planning applications for mobile phone masts.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a wide range of representations on planning applications for telecommunications masts over the last year.

North–West Regional Assembly

Mr. Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing an elected regional assembly in the North West.

Nick Raynsford: Costs will vary from region to region, mainly because of the different sizes of their electorates. But we expect them all to fall in a range around #15–30m a region. This estimate includes all costs necessary to establish an assembly, including the cost of a referendum and of the first elections to an assembly.

Local Government

Roger Casale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on comprehensive performance assessments for local authorities.

Christopher Leslie: The Local Government White Paper, Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services, published in December 2001, introduced a requirement for local authorities to be assessed and categorised on the basis of a comprehensive appraisal of their performance. This Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) is intended to cover performance across an authority's full range of service areas. The Audit Commission is tasked with taking the lead in co-ordinating and delivering the new assessment process.

Planning

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his proposals to reform the planning procedures for major infrastructure projects.

Tony McNulty: We are considering the options for taking this forward. As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in his statement on 18 July we have accepted the Select Committee's arguments that Parliamentary Procedures for major infrastructure projects are not the best way forward.

Park Homes

Colin Burgon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he plans to take in response to the Park Homes Working Party Report.

Tony McNulty: We are already acting on those recommendations not requiring legislation, and will shortly publish research into the economics of park homes. We are developing other measures that require legislation, and will consult on these as soon as practicable.

Rental Homes

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many affordable rental homes will be built by (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords in the current year.

Tony McNulty: Central government does not make forecasts of affordable housing build. We expect local authorities to plan to meet the housing requirements of the whole community, including those in need of affordable housing.
	However, from information available through the Housing Corporation's monitoring of its Approved Development Programme (ADP) and support via Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG), it is broadly estimated that RSLs will be complete between 16,000 and 17,000 new homes by for rent (excluding shared ownership) during 2002–03.
	RSLs remain the principal providers of new social housing. Local authorities build very few new dwellings, generally only in special circumstances.

County Councillors

Gillian Merron: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to support improvements in standards of conduct of members of county councils.

Nick Raynsford: From May this year, a new Code of Conduct has been applied to all councillors—including members of county councils. The new Code makes very clear the high standards of behaviour that are expected of all councillors. Alongside the introduction of new Codes, the Government has established the Standards Board for England to support councils in raising standards of conduct, and to investigate allegations of misconduct.

Huntingdonshire District Council

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate for Huntingdonshire District Council the effects of each of the options set out in chapter 9 of Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper.

Nick Raynsford: The effects on Huntingdonshire DC of the options in chapter 9 (which relate to the Area Cost Adjustment) are set out on page 118 of the consultation document. They are as follows, showing in each case the increase both in actual and percentage terms compared with 2002/03.
	
		
			 Local Authority 2002/03 Total SSA  Change from 2002/03 Total SSA 
			   Option ACA1 Option ACA2 Option ACA3 Option ACA4 Option ACA5 
			  (#m) (#m) (%) (#m) (%) (#m) (%) (#m) (%) (#m) (%) 
		
		
			 Huntingdonshire 14.0 0.3 2.4% 0.3 2.1% 0.4 3.0% 0.6 4.4% 0.7 5.1%

Local Government Staff

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he will take to improve the salary and conditions of service of local government staff; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Negotiations on local government pay and conditions of service are carried out by local authorities and the trade unions.

Area-Based Initiatives

Claire Ward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Review of Area Based Initiatives.

Barbara Roche: I am announcing the outcome of the Review of Area Based Initiatives today. The Review sets out a number of important changes which will significantly improve the co-ordination of area based initiatives. I am placing copies of the report on the outcomes in the libraries of both Houses.

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

David Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he intends to publish the Government's consultation document on a national alcohol harm reduction strategy.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply. 
	It has always been the Government's intention to undertake an extensive process of consultation with stakeholders and relevant groups as part of the development of a National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy. Yesterday jointly with my hon. Friend Hazel Blears we published a consultation document ''National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy: Consultation Document'' setting out the areas on which the Government would welcome views. Copies of this have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The consultation period will run until 15 January and responses are sought directly to the Strategy Unit and Department of Health. We will also be holding a series of joint consultation events to seek the views of a range of stakeholders including local authorities, police, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), NHS/ medical services (eg PCTs), education (schools sector), academics (university sector), voluntary sector, non-government organisations, the alcohol industry, users of treatment services and employers. Once the consultation period has closed the Strategy Unit will produce an interim analysis taking account of responses received.

TREASURY

Excess Winter Deaths

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many excess winter deaths occurred in 2001–02, broken down by (a) English region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Great Britain by age band; and if he will provide corresponding estimates for each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter to Mr. Burstow from Len Cook dated 16 Oct 2002:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the excess winter deaths for each English region, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain, in each year 1996–1997 to 2001–2002, with a breakdown by age for each year. (74536)
	Figures for English Government Office Regions and for Wales for 1996–97 to 2000–01 are provided in the attached table. Please note that the figures for 2000–01 are currently provisional. Comparable figures for Scotland are not produced routinely. Available figures were published in a GRO Scotland occasional paper in April 2002.1
	ONS will be releasing final figures for 2000–2001 and provisional excess winter mortality figures for 2001–2002 on 24 October 2002. I will be placing a copy in the Libraries of the House at that time.
	Notes:
	1 Bowie, N., Jackson, G., 2002. Occasional Paper No.7: The Raised Incidence of Winter Deaths. General Register Office for Scotland
	
		Excess winter deaths* by age-group and Government Office Region of usual residence, 1991/1992–1999/2000 and 2000/2001**
		
			   1996/1997 1 1997/1998 1 1998/1999 1 1999/2000 1 2000/2001 1  
		
		
			 England, Wales and elsewhere 0–64 3040 1700 3100 3770 2300 
			  65–74 6970 4200 6950 7440 3300 
			  75–84 17540 7870 16340 16840 8400 
			  85+ 20140 9130 20450 20390 11000 
			  All ages 47690 22900 46840 48440 25000 
			 North East 0–64 130 110 90 280 100 
			  65–74 500 360 470 480 300 
			  75–84 920 530 890 1030 600 
			  85+ 680 550 920 880 500 
			  All ages 2230 1550 2370 2680 1500 
			 North West 0–64 510 280 630 420 200 
			  65–74 1070 500 1230 1090 600 
			  75–84 2260 980 2600 2060 1300 
			  85+ 2520 1010 2880 2520 1600 
			  All ages 6360 2770 7350 6090 3800 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0–64 240 210 260 350 200 
			  65–74 700 480 810 680 500 
			  75–84 1810 860 1800 1690 800 
			  85+ 1800 910 1890 1900 1000 
			  All ages 4540 2460 4760 4620 2600 
			 East Midlands 0–64 250 130 310 350 200 
			  65–74 470 360 550 590 300 
			  75–84 1280 700 1560 1270 800 
			  85+ 1540 820 1680 1620 1000 
			  All ages 3540 2000 4090 3820 2200 
			 West Midlands 0–64 410 250 470 440 300 
			  65–74 740 510 750 950 400 
			  75–84 1650 800 1730 1810 1000 
			  85+ 1740 900 1920 2090 900 
			  All ages 4530 2460 4860 5290 2600 
			 East 0–64 240 170 130 330 100 
			  65–74 710 410 640 670 200 
			  75–84 1720 930 1590 1800 1000 
			  85+ 2320 1030 2440 2070 1200 
			  All ages 5000 2540 4800 4880 2400 
			 London 0–64 430 150 420 470 300 
			  65–74 870 320 670 930 300 
			  75–84 2240 930 1690 2050 800 
			  85+ 2390 1120 2160 2430 1400 
			  All ages 5940 2520 4940 5870 2800 
			 South East 0–64 420 250 370 630 300 
			  65–74 870 570 890 1050 200 
			  75–84 2770 990 2190 2470 1000 
			  85+ 3600 1410 3260 3530 1600 
			  All ages 7650 3210 6710 7680 3200 
			 South West 0–64 300 120 230 310 300 
			  65–74 600 400 420 620 200 
			  75–84 1830 700 1380 1580 500 
			  85+ 2320 1020 2100 2220 1200 
			  All ages 5060 2240 4130 4730 2300 
			 Wales 0–64 120 90 230 220 200 
			  65–74 490 360 540 420 200 
			  75–84 1050 480 930 1090 600 
			  85+ 1220 350 1200 1150 600 
			  All ages 2880 1290 2900 2880 1700 
			 England 0–64 2930 1660 2900 3570 2100 
			  65–74 6520 3890 6430 7070 3100 
			  75–84 16490 7410 15430 15770 7800 
			  85+ 18910 8770 19250 19250 10400 
			  All ages 44850 21740 44010 45650 23400 
			 England and Wales 0–64 3050 1760 3130 3790 2300 
			  65–74 7010 4260 6970 7490 3300 
			  75–84 17540 7890 16360 16850 8400 
			  85+ 20130 9120 20450 20400 11000 
			  All ages 47730 23030 46900 48520 25000 
		
	
	Notes:
	* Excess winter deaths are defined by the Office for National Statistics as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July)
	** provisional
	1 rounded to the nearest 10
	2 provisional, rounded to the nearest 100

National Insurance Numbers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the rules are regarding obtaining work without the possession of a national insurance number.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply. 
	Employers can offer employment to a person who has not yet registered for National Insurance purposes. A person without a National Insurance number is not precluded from starting work and then obtaining a National Insurance number later.

National Insurance Numbers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers were prosecuted for employing people without national insurance numbers in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001; and what penalties were imposed.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply. 
	There is no requirement in law to have a National Insurance number before starting work. Therefore no employers have been prosecuted for employing people without National Insurance numbers.

National Insurance Numbers

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many National Insurance number applicants have waited four months or more for an interview in each of the last 24 months; and what has been the average time between a person's original application for a number and a number being issued in each year since 1992.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply. 
	The information is not available in the format requested.
	Earlier this year, applicants were experiencing delays in some parts of the country for up to 6 months. That figure has reduced considerably, and indications are that no one currently has to wait more than 4 weeks for an initial National Insurance number allocation interview.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Recruitment

Julian Lewis: To ask the Solicitor General how many net additional staff her Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at (a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 29 April 2002
	The figures for the Departments for which the Attorney General is responsible are as follows:
	Serious Fraud Office
	Record keeping by the SFO does not allow the breakdown of the creation of new posts on a month by month basis without incurring disproportionate costs. However, during the year 1 April 2001 to 1 April 2002, the SFO created 24 additional executive officer posts and 18 additional administrative officer posts.
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
	In the period June 2001 to April 2002, HMCPSI created three additional posts, two at executive officer level and one at administrative officer level.
	Treasury Solicitor's Department
	In relation to the Treasury Solicitor's Department (including Legal Secretariat to the Law officers), no additional posts were created in the period June 2001 to Apri 2002.
	Crown Prosecution Service
	The number of net additional staff recruited since June 2001 by the Crown Prosecution Service is set out in the attached table. The figures are Full Time equivalent figures, reflecting the fact that some posts are part-time.
	
		FTE CountJune 01July 01Aug 01Sept 01Oct 01Nov 01Dec 01Jan 02Feb 02Mar 02Total
		
			 Casual  
			  Administrative 41.89 50.57 -26.19 -53.25 -0.84 6.70 -2.93 4.89 1.48 3.73 26.04 
			  Executive -1.00 -1.00 0.00 -1.59 0.00 -1.00 0.00 0.67 -0.61 1.00 -3.54 
			  Total change +/- 40.89 49.57 -26.19 -54.85 -0.84 5.70 -2.93 5.56 0.87 4.73 22.50 
			 Permanent  
			  Administrative 59.85 78.97 45.16 25.10 38.88 27.26 10.03 24.43 16.77 -11.78 314.67 
			  Executive 4.00 1.39 6.14 10.55 25.99 15.66 -.53 0.92 -2.06 -15.60 45.47 
			  Total change +/- 63.85 80.37 51.30 35.66 64.88 42.92 8.50 25.35 14.71 -27.38 360.14